Can a cat be vegan?

truthisouthere · 28-08-2011, 03:45 PM

Just want to confirm this, and it's something my sis and I disagree on:

My sister's a vegan, it's not a health kick, she's been vegan for a while, grounded on her passion about cruelty and abuse to animals. She wants to bring her next cats up as vegan and cruelty free. But I say you can have a vegan dog but it would be unfair and unhealthy to bring up a cat vegan!! A cat is built to be a carnivore it needs it's meat and taurine in order to live a long and healthy life! I'm not biased, I've been vegetarian myself for 25 years, so I'm all for compassion for animals, but to force it onto a species where it could endanger their life is, to me, just plain selfish. Am I wrong?

angieh · 28-08-2011, 03:56 PM

You are right truth - cats are obligate carnivores and must have taurine in their diet.

I have heard that there are dogs who can healthily be vegetarian, such as the Dutch Kaishunt (sp?) and some Scandinavian breeds who eat moss and lichen (like reindeer).

Just been reading a bit about taurine - it seems that the adult human body manufactures it's own supply and I presume that cats are unable to do this.

Here's a good link!

dandysmom · 28-08-2011, 04:07 PM

Cats MUST have animal protein in their diets .... obligate carnivores as was said.

Velvet · 28-08-2011, 05:24 PM

Maybe a house rabbit would be a better choice for your sister?

Kim · 28-08-2011, 08:44 PM

My friend is a vet nurse and she says she has seen cats who have died from being fed a vegetarian diet, they need taurine and will become very ill and eventually die if they are not fed meat. Dogs can be vegetarian and I know someone who is vegan and her dogs are vegetarian, they are healthy, but I personally think it unfair and would never do this to my dogs.

truthisouthere · 28-08-2011, 10:04 PM

Good, I'm glad I've got that one cleared up. Thanks angieh, I've bookmarked your link and also taken note of that valuable piece of info kim. I don't belive that we should force our belief system on any animal if it would cause harm, a cat being vegan is just ludicrous and downright cruel.

paulinef2 · 29-08-2011, 08:02 AM

I find it a bit worrying that she hadn't even researched this herself. Thankfully she has had you to put her straight on this matter, hopefully she heeds your advice.

truthisouthere · 29-08-2011, 08:26 AM

Her current 2 still have a few years left in them yet I hope so she won't be getting any more until those 2 have passed on.

Also not having used the internet before she's not done any in-depth research on this yet so I'm doing it for her in good time for the sake of the future cats! It can take a long time to talk my sis round once she's made her stubborn mind up! Years!!

She's got a day off today so I'm going to broach the subject with her again. I'm NOT going to let this happen, don't worry. If we fall out over it then so be it, but I'm not going to let this happen.

angieh · 29-08-2011, 10:17 AM

If all else fails, call in your fellow Catseyers to have a talk with your stubborn sister!!!

truthisouthere · 29-08-2011, 10:29 AM

Cheers, me dears!
I doubt it'll come to that, (fortunately for you! you can stop holding your breath now..)

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